2015 State Update

NATIONAL HEALTH

FREEDOM ACTION

PMB 218, 2136 Ford Parkway St. Paul, MN 55116-1863

Phone 507-663-9018, Fax 507-663-9013

Email: [email protected]

www.nationalhealthfreedom.org

Board of DirectorsBruce Curtis

President: Jerri JohnsonLarry Hanus

Anthony Stephan Bonita Yoder JD

Mission Statement To promote access to all health care information, services, treatments and products that the people deem beneficial

for their own health and survival; to promote legislative reform of the laws impacting the right to access; and to promote the health of the people of this nation.

http://www.nationalhealthfreedom.org/

National Health Freedom Action STATE ACTION UPDATE

Occupational and Other Laws Impacting Health FreedomSeptember 17, 2015

NHFA is committed to supporting state bills promoting freedom of choice in health care such as: State Safe Harbor Exemption laws to protect access to unlicensed natural health care practitioners; Expanded Care Practice Acts for access to holistic doctors and other holistic licensed professionals; Bills calling for access to mercury free vaccines;Protection of philosophical exemptions for vaccine mandates;Protection of access to raw unpasteurized foods such as raw milk and dairy products and farm fresh products; Bills supporting the labeling of genetically modified foods;Bills that protect parent rights to choose alternative health care for their children; andSupport of states that oppose mandatory participation in federal health plans.

The goal is to empower citizens to make health care decisions with the information they need.

Note: Regarding NHFA’s commitment to support the passage of Safe Harbor Exemption bills for protecting access to independent health care practitioners who do not hold state occupational licenses and are currently practicing in the public domain: Historically these practitioners have been unfairly charged with practice of medicine without a license. Safe Harbor exemption laws for these practitioners are needed in order to protect consumer access to the broad range of health care and healing practitioners, such as herbalists, traditional naturopaths, homeopaths, body workers, and culturally specific healing practices, that are not currently regulated by the states and that do not rise to the level of concern requiring state oversight, certification, registration, or licensure. Ten states now protect consumer access to unlicensed health care practitioners, including Oklahoma, Idaho, Minnesota, Rhode Island, California, Louisiana, New Mexico, Arizona (limited exemption for homeopaths passed in Arizona ), Colorado, and Nevada. Fifteen additional states have introduced similar legislation within the past ten years. Other states are preparing for the future.

The following is a table of bills, primarily having to do with OCCUPATIONAL LICENSURE ISSUES, which we have opposed or supported to protect health freedoms. Green indicates that a Safe Harbor law has passed, in some form, in that state.

Bill Activity as of August 26, 2015

State Year Bill ActionArizona 2015 S.B. 1398 Removing a law allowing parents

who do not vaccinate their natural and adoptive children to be foster parents

Oppose; No action since Senate Second Reading on Feb. 4, 2015

2015 H.B. 2462 Mandatory GMO-Labeling Support; no action since assigned to Rules March 31, 2015

2013-2014 H.B. 2029 Laetrile – Prohibition Oppose; died in committee2011-2012 S.B. 1175 Mandating licensure of homeopaths

that are not medical doctorsOpposed; Passed

2011 S.B. 1382 Freeing up use of title homeopath for homeopaths practicing under exemption laws

SUPPORTED and PASSED

Arkansas 2015 H.B. 1827 Creating Parents Bill of Rights Supported; (H) recommended for study in the



interim by Joint Interim Committee on Judiciary

2013 H.B. 1011 Naturopathic Doctor Licensing Opposed and not passed before end of sessionCalifornia 2015 S.B. 277 Eliminate All non-medical Vaccine

exemptionsOpposed; Senate concurred in Assembly amendments on June 29 and Signed by Governor on June 30, 2015

2015 S.B. 792 Adding Vaccination requirements for daycare employees

Oppose; (S) concurred in Assembly amendments, ordered to engrossing and enrolling on Sept. 10 and Presented to Governor on Sept. 15, 2015

2013 – 2014 A.B. 1278 /S.B. 117 Integrative Cancer Treatment

Neutral; Died January 31, 2014

2013-2014 S.B. 1381 GMO-Labeling Supported; Died in chamber - Senate read third time and refused passage (Ayes 19. Noes 16) on May 29, 2014

2012 GMO Labeling Ballot Initiative; 560,000 physical signatures required to earn a spot on the November 2012 Ballot

Supported and Failed

2011 A.B. 575 Licensing Dietitians Opposed and supported health freedom amendments; Withdrawn at request of author

2005 A.B. 302 Naturopathic Doctor Registration Supported Health Freedom Safe Harbor Exemption amendments; Passed

2001 S.B. 577 Safe Harbor exemption for unlicensed practitioners


Colorado 2015 S.B. 77 Parents Bill of Rights Supported; (H) Postponed Indefinitely on Mar. 17, 2015

2015 H.B. 1075 Allow Registered Naturopaths to treat kids under 2 years of age

Neutral; Governor signed Mar. 26, 2015

2014 S.B. 14-032 Repeal of two year old child ban on treatment from natural health practitioners

Supported; Postponed indefinitely in the House April 3, 2014

2014 S.B. 14-128 Naturopath Licensure Act - Amend to add registration for non-4yr NP school grads

Opposed; Postponed Indefinitely on February 13, 2014

2013-2014 S.B. 151 Certification to Licensure of Massage Therapists

Neutral and Passed

2013 H.B. 1111 Naturopathic Doctor Licensure Neutral and Passed

2013 S.B. 215 Natural Health Consumer Protection Act

Supported and Passed but with negative amendment needing to be repealed; Signed June 5, 2013

2012 H.B. 1060 Dietitian Licensing bill Opposed; Tabled indefinitely2012 Health Freedom Safe Harbor Exemption for

unlicensed practitioners drafted and ready for sponsorship

Supported; Tabled

2011 H.B.11-1173 Naturopathic Doctor Licensing bill Opposed and Defeated2010 H.B. 1371, “Colorado Health Freedom Act”, a

Safe Harbor Exemption billSupported; Postponed Indefinitely in Committee April 2010

2009 H.B. 115 Naturopathic Physician Registration Opposed and Defeated2007 H.B. 1158 Health Freedom Safe Harbor

Exemption bill introducedSupported; Tabled

Connecticut 2015 H.B. 5915 Recognizing and allowing to practice nationally-certified classical homeopaths

Neutral; (H) Public Health Committee reserved subject for public hearing in Feb. 2015

2015 H.B. 5448 Require health care providers to be vaccinated against influenza

Oppose; No movement since Public Hearing on March 4, 2015

2015 H.B. 6949 Parents’ statements seeking a religious exemption from a required immunization must be notarized

Opposed; Passed and Signed by the governor on July 2, 2015

2015 H.B. 5726 and H.B. 6042 Eliminate trigger events for the effectiveness of statutes pertaining to GMO- labeling

Support; No movement since the bills were referred to Joint Committee on Environment on Jan. 21, 2015

2014 H.B. 5327 Practice of classical homeopathy and Support; Favorable report and Tabled for the



complementary and alternative health care Calendar April 10, 20142013 H.B. 6527 Mandatory GMO Labeling Support and Passed; Adopted December 20132013 H.B. 6389 Colon Hydrotherapy Certification

and Referral by Licensed NaturopathOpposed and Passed July 2013

2013 H.B.5444/S.B. 873 Colon Hydrotherapy Registration

Opposed and Failed

2012 H.B. 5117 “An Act Concerning Genetically-Engineered Foods”

Supported; not passed before end of session

Delaware 2015 H.B. 91 Adds to public school immunization program that the asserted cause of a medical exemption may be subject to review and approval by the Division of Public Health.

Opposed; Passed and Signed by Governor on July 15, 2015

2008 S.B. 317 Dietitian Licensing bill Supported health freedom amendments and Passed

Florida 2015 H.B. 351/S.B.416 GMO-Labeling Supported; (H) Died in Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee April 28, 2015; (S) Died in Agriculture on May 1, 2015

2013 S.B. 720/H.B. 1189 Deregulation of some professions: Example hair braiding

Supported; Died May, 2013

2007 Drafting committee for merged Naturopathic regulation bill for health freedom of multiple parties and orgs

Not introduced

2004 S.B. 1474/H.B. 801 Safe Harbor Exemption bill Supported; Tabled2001 Florida Statute 456.41 Complementary or

alternative health care treatments law for licensed health care providers such as MDs

Enacted

Hawaii 2015 S.B. 1216 Adding colon hydrotherapy to exclusive scope of naturopaths

Oppose; no movement since referred to (S) Health on Jan. 28, 2015

2015 S.B.131, S.B. 1315, S.B. 1321 and S.B. 875 GMO-Labeling Bills

Support; No movement since referred to committee(s) in Jan. and Feb., 2015

2014 S.B. 2439 /H.B. 2091 Herbal Therapy Licensure Opposed; no movement since introduced

2014 Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 31-14, Sunrise Review of Herbal Therapy Licensure

Opposed; (H) recommended adoption on April 25, 2014; NHFA submitted comments; Auditor recommends Hawaii Not License Herbalists on Dec. 23, 2014

2014 S.B. 2750 Colon Hydrotherapy Licensure Opposed; no movement since introduced2013 S.B. 195/H.B. 1366 Herbal Therapy Licensure Opposed; not passed before end of session2013 Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 58-13 Study

Regarding Herbal LicensureOpposed; not passed before end of session

2012 H.B. 2031, S.Bs. 2279 2443, 2478, and 2891 – Requiring GMO-Labeling


2012 S.B. 2832/H.B. 2570 Dietitian Licensing bill Opposed; not passed before end of session2007 H.B. 631/ S.B. 739 Safe Harbor Exemption for

unlicensed practitionersSupported; Tabled

2006 S.B. 2099 Homeopathic exemption from licensure requirements

Supported; Tabled

2004 H.B. 2036 Safe Harbor Exemption bill for unlicensed practitioners

Supported; Tabled

Idaho 2015 S.B. 1777 Repeal Naturopathic Licensure law Neutral: Passed and Signed by Governor on April 10, Session Law Chapter 317 Effective: July 1, 2015

2015 S.B. 181 Adds to existing law to provide the Naturopathic Medical Physicians Licensing Act

Opposed; Returned to the Senate failed on Mar. 31, 2015

2014 H.B. 566 Naturopathic Licensure Oppose; Referred to Health and Welfare Feb. 27, 2014

2010 S.B. 1369 Safe Harbor Exemption from Naturopathic Physician Act

Supported and Passed

1976 Most historic Safe Harbor Exemption bill Passed



Illinois 2015 S.B. 1601/H.B. 3508 Naturopathic Physician Licensure

Opposed; (S) Postponed by Licensed Activities and Pensions Committee on March 26, 2015 and (H) Re-referred to Rules Committee via Rule 19(a) on March 27, 2015

2015 S.B. 1410 severely restricts religious exemptions to vaccination by requiring objection form to be signed by a religious official attesting to a bona fide religious objection and notarized

Opposed; Adopted, August 3, 2015

2015 S.B. 986 Childcare Employee Vaccine Act – no exemptions

Opposed; Governor approved on August 4, 2015, Effective Jan. 2016

2015 S.B. 734 GMO-Labeling Supported; Did not meet (S) third reading deadline of May, 31, 2015

2013 - 2014 H.B.3645 Licensing of Naturopathic Doctors Opposed; not passed before end of session2014 Safe Harbor Bill – Working to find sponsors Supported; not introduced2013 S.B. 1168 Licensing of Naturopathic Doctors Opposed; Deferred to 20142013 S.B. 1651/H.B.3368 Colon Hydrotherapy

LicensureOpposed; Deferred to 2014

2013 Safe Harbor Bill – Working to find sponsors Supported; not introduced

2012 S.B. 2936 Dietitian Nutrition Licensing Opposed and supported health freedom amendments which were rejected; Passed and Effective on December 28, 2012

2012 S.B. 3922 Naturopathic Medical Practice Act Opposed; not passed before end of session2011 S.B. 2936 Dietitian Nutrition Licensing Opposed; not passed before end of session

Indiana 2015 S.B. 60 and S.B.264/ H.B.1460 GMO-Labeling bills

Support; no action since introduced Jan. 2015

2014 H.B.1293/S.B. 348 Massage Certification to Licensure

Oppose; no movement since introduced

2013 H.B. 1272 Dietitian Licensing Opposed: not passed2012 H.B. 1187 Dietitian Licensing Opposed; not passed before end of session

Iowa 2015 S.S.B. 1067/H.S.B. 51 Naturopathic Licensure – Study Bill

Opposed; no movement since introduced

2014 H.S.B. 528/S.S.B. 3013 Dietitian Licensure – Study Bill

Opposed; no movement since introduced

2014 H.S.B. 577/S.S.B. 3139 Naturopathic Licensure – Study Bill

Opposed; Died on Feb. 13, 2014 – to be worked on over the summer

2012 H.B. 507 / S.B. 3022 Naturopathic Licensure Opposed and Tabled2012 H.F. 375 Requiring GMO-Labeling for certain

productsSupported; not passed before end of session

2011 S.S.B. 1066, S.F. 293 Licensure of Naturopathic Doctors

Opposed and Tabled

2008 S.F. 2168 Safe Harbor Exemption health freedom bill

Supported; Tabled

2004-2007 Safe Harbor Exemption health freedom bills Supported; TabledKansas 2015 S.B. 40/H.B. 2123 Massage Licensure Neutral; No action since hearing in Feb. 2015

2014 H.B. 2187 Massage Licensure Neutral; heard on Jan. 29, 2014 – no vote taken2014 S.B. 67 Adding Philosophical Exemption to

Immunization RequirementsSupported; Failed

2001 S.B. 276 Naturopathic Doctor Licensing bill Opposed; PassedHealth Freedom amendments rejected

Louisiana 2015 H.B. 342 Adding Vaccine for Meningococcal disease to schedule for school kids and day cares

Opposed; Adopted July 1, 2015

2008 Safe Harbor Exemption health freedom law amendments

Supported and Passed

2005 S.B.189 Safe Harbor Exemption bill SUPPORTED and PASSEDMaine 2015 H.P. 419 (LD 606), Remove Philosophical

Exemption from the Immunization Requirements for Students, Employees of Nursery Schools and Health Care Facilities

Opposed; Died in Senate on May 29, 2015



2015 H.P. 310 (LD 471) Requires a parent seeking a philosophical exemption to be educated by a health care practitioner and to provide documentation signed by a health care practitioner

Opposed; (H) concurred in Governor veto on June 30, 2015

2015 S.P. 478 (LD 1326)/H.P. 686 (LD 991) GMO-Labeling of food and seed and removing triggering clause

Supported; (S) Carried over into any special or regular session of the 127th legislature on June 30, 2015 and in (H) on July 21, 2015

2013 HP 490 Mandatory GMO Labeling – with triggering clause

Supported; Passed to be enacted on June 12, 2013

2013 HP 505 Vaccine Ingredient Transparency Supported; Did not passMaryland 2015 H.B. 687 Repeal Religious Exemptions from

Immunization RequirementsOpposed; Unfavorable report by (H) Health and Government Operations Committee and withdrawn on March 17, 2015

2014 H.B. 402/S.B. 314 Naturopathic Medicine Licensing; broad scope, no exemptions

Opposed; Approved by the Governor April 14, 2014

2014 H.B. 1156/ S.B. 817 Massage Licensing restrictions and exclusive exemptions

Opposed; withdrawn in both bodies Feb. 2014

2013 S.B. 783/H.B. 1029 Naturopathic Doctor Licensure

Opposed; Did not pass

2012 S.B. 180/ H.B. 620 Naturopathic Physician Licensing

Opposed; not passed before end of session

2010 H.B. 541/ S.B. 357 Safe Harbor Exemption Bills Supported: hearing held with no vote taken in both House and Senate

2009 H.B. 1380 Exemption bill but with registration for unlicensed persons

Opposed and Tabled

2008 H.B. 730 Safe Harbor Exemption health freedom bill

Supported; no action taken

2007 Mercury Free dentistry – expanded practice bill for Dentistry

Supported; Passed and Vetoed by Governor

Massachusetts 2015 S.B. 1136/ H.B. 2033 Safe Harbor Exemption Health Freedom bills

Support; to be heard by Joint Public Health Committee in November 2015

2015 S.B. 1205/H.B. 1992 Creating Naturopathy Registration Board

Oppose; no action since referred to Committee on April 15, 2015

2015 S.B. 317 Adding Personal Belief Exemption to Immunization laws

Support; No movement since Joint Committee on Education Hearing scheduled for June 3, 2015

2015 H.B. 3242 GMO-labeling, food and seed Support; to be heard in Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture on Sept. 22, 2015

2013 - 2014 H.B. 1898 Naturopathic Services Insurance Coverage

Opposed; no action taken

2013 - 2014 H.B. 3674 Naturopathic Registration restricting the use of the title “naturopath” and defining naturopathic health care

Opposed; reported favorably by Public Health and referred to the Committee on House Ways and Means on May 14, 2014

2013 S.B. 1091/H.B. 2003 Naturopathic Doctor Registration

Opposed; replaced by H.B. 3674

2012 S.B. 1158/H.B. 2367 Naturopathic licensing Opposed; not passed before end of session2011 S.B. 1158/H.B. 2367 Naturopathic licensing Opposed; not passed before end of session2009 MA bill filing No. 111409 Safe Harbor

Exemption health freedom billSupported; not passed before end of session

Michigan 2015 H.B. 4531 Naturopathic Physician Licensure Oppose; no movement since introduced on April 29, 2015

2013 H.B. 4688/S.B. 579 Deregulating Dietetics/Nutrition

Supported; H.B. 4688 Passed and Approved by the Governor on July 1, 2014

2013 H.B. 4152 Licensing of Naturopathic Doctors Opposed; not passed before end of session2013 – 2014 H.B. 4738 Health Freedom Safe Harbor

Exemption billSupported; not passed before end of session

2012 H.B. 4789 Health Freedom Safe Harbor Exemption bill




2012 H.B. 5594, Licensure of Naturopathic Physicians


2011 H.B. 4789 Safe Harbor Exemption bill Supported; not passed before end of session2006 S.B. 403 Dietitian Licensing Opposed; supported safe harbor amendments

for unlicensed practitioners; Bill passed with no freedom amendment

Minnesota 2015 S.F. 1310 Massage and Bodywork Therapy Act Oppose; no movement since referred to (S) Health Committee on March 4, 2015

2015 S.F. 335/H.F. 351 GMO-Labeling Support; no movement since introduced on Jan. 26, 2015

2015 S.F 380 /H.F.393 Eliminates the conscientious belief exemption and replaces it with a restricted personal belief exemption

Oppose; (S) no action since second reading on March, 23, 2015 and (H) no action since introduced, January 29, 2015

2015 S.F. 1870/ H.F. 1978 Health care providers vaccination reporting and disclosure requirements

Support; (S) No action since referred to Health and Human Services and Housing Committee on March 18, 2015 and (H) no action since introduced on March 17, 2015

2014 H.F. 3140 Mandatory GMO-Labeling Supported; informational hearing only2014 S.F. 1792/H.F. 1925 Massage and Bodywork

RegistrationOpposed; not passed before end of session

2014 S.F. 1642/H.F. 1817 Expanded Practice Act for Licensed Practitioner providing Complementary and Alternative Health Care

Opposed but Supported after health freedom amendments added; Approved by Governor on May 21, 2014

2012 H.F. 255/S.F. 147 Raw Milk Delivery Supported; not passed before end of session2012 Amendment to Agricultural Omnibus bill

clarifying MN’s Constitutional right to peddle products of the farm or garden

Supported; no vote in House and defeated in Senate

2012 H.F. 2808 / S.F. 2563 Requiring GMO-Labeling Supported; not passed before end of session2011 H.F. 255 Raw Milk delivery Supported; informational hearing in House but

not passed before end of session2010 H.F. 1503 Massage Licensure Opposed and Defeated2009 Assessment of Naturopathic Regulation Task

ForceParticipated as member of task force and crafted clarifying amendments

2008 H.F. 1724 Naturopathic Medicine Registration Opposed: supported health freedom amendments exempting traditional naturopaths;Passed

2000 H.F. 537/S.B. 689 Complementary and Alternative Health Care bill


Mississippi 2015 H.B. 725 Naturopathic Licensure Neutral; Died in Committee on Feb. 3, 20152015 H.B. 130/S.B. 2800 Allowing exemptions from

vaccinations for conscientious beliefsSupported; (H) Died on calendar in Feb. 2015 and (S) Died in Committee on Feb. 3, 2015

2014 H.B. 1420/S.B. 2789 Allow philosophical Exemption to Vaccination

Supported; Died February 2014

Missouri 2015 S.B. 329/ H.B. 1963 Requiring employees and volunteers of specified public and private institutions to receive annual Flu vaccination

Opposed; (S) No movement since Second Read and Referral to Veterans’ Affairs and Health Committee in February 2015 and (H) in Health Care Policy since May 2014

2015 H.B. 168 GMO-Labeling Support; (H) Referred to Emerging issues on May 15, 2015

2014 H.B. 1891 Deregulation of 8 professions and allows practice without license

Supported; to Professional Registration and Licensing April 2, 2014

2013 H.B. 659 Occupational Deregulation Supported; not passed before end of session

2012 H.B. 984, H.B. 2088 Requiring GMO-Labeling Supported; not passed before end of sessionMontana 2009 S.B. 287 Safe Harbor Exemption health freedom

billSupported; not passed before end of session

Nevada 2015 A.B. 295 Wellness Services Bill Supported; Passed and Governor Signed on June 9, 2015

2015 S.B. 408 Naturopathic Licensing Neutral; no further action allowed as of April 11, 2015



2013 S.B. 220 Board authority to enter premise where medicine is practiced w/o license

Opposed; Adopted June 2013

2013 A.B. 341 Homeopathic certificate assistant or advanced practitioner

Opposed; Adopted May 2013

2011 A.B. 289 Dietician Licensing Opposed then Supported once adopted Safe Harbor health freedom amendment; PASSED

2011 S.B. 412 Complementary Integrative Medicine (CIM) Licensing bill

Opposed and Defeated

2009 S.B. 69 Regulating all unlicensed practitioners under Integrative Medical Board

Opposed and did not move

2009 S.B. 269 Safe Harbor Exemption health freedom bill

Supported; put aside until next session

New Hampshire 2013 - 2014 H.B. 808 Mandatory GMO-Labeling Supported; not passed before end of session2007 H.B. 908 Regulate all Bodywork and Reiki Opposed and Defeated

New Jersey 2015 S.B. 1147/A.B. 1931 Restricting religious exemptions to vaccinations

Oppose; no movement since (S) Reported from Committee, Second Reading on March 9, 2015

2014 A.B. 2826/S.B. 855/S.B. 1661 Dietitian and Nutritionist Licensing

Oppose; no movement since introduced

2014 S.B. 1190 Naturopathic Doctor Licensing Opposed; no movement since introduced2014 S.B. 1068 Amend Massage and Bodywork

Licensing ActTBD; no movement since introduced

2013 A.B. 2128/S.B. 2896 Dietitian and Nutritionist Licensing


2013 S.B. 3035 Exempt Reiki from Massage and Bodywork

Neutral; not passed before end of session

2012 H.B. 1367 Requiring GMO-labeling Supported; not passed before end of session2012 S.B. 833 Dietitian/Nutrition Licensing Opposed; not passed before end of session2010-1011 S.B. 809/A.B. 1987 Dietitian/Nutritionists

Licensing billsOpposed; not passed before end of session

2008-2009 S.B. 1941/A.B. 2933 Dietitian/Nutritionists Licensing bills


New Mexico 2015 H.B. 522 Severely restricts religious exemptions to vaccination

Opposed; (H) Committee Postponed Indefinitely in February 2015


SUPPORTED AND PASSED

New York 2015 S.B. 362/A.B. 1257 Dietitian and Nutritionist Licensure

Oppose; no action since referred to committee in January 2015

2015 A.B. 2108 Incorporate all Complementary and Alternative Medicine into Practice of Dietetics

Oppose; no action since referred to committee in January 2015

2015 S.B. 4917/A.B. 7035 Regulating Practice of Naturopathic Medicine

Neutral; no action since referred to committee in April 2015

2015 A.B. 2286 Reflexology Licensing Oppose; no action since referred to committee in January 2015

2015 S.B. 485/ AB617 and S.B. 617/AB4233 GMO –Labeling Bills

Support; S.B. 617 amended May 26, 2015; S.B. 485 amended and recommitted to Consumer Protection May 28, 2015; Assembly bills are in Assembly Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee

2015 S.B. 1536/A.B. 943 Adding a philosophical exemption to vaccination requirements

Supported; Died Feb. 9, 2015

2015 S.B. 6017/A.B. 8329 Repealing Religious Belief Exemptions to Immunizations

Oppose; (A) Introduced on August 05, 2015 and (S) introduced by Sen. Hoylman on July 15, 2015

2013 - 2014 A.B. 7860/ S.B.4828 Naturopathic Doctor Licensure

Opposed; to Assembly Higher Education Committee Jan. 2014

2013 - 2014 A.B. 1388 Incorporate all Complementary and Alternative Medicine into Practice of Dietetics

Opposed; to Assembly Higher Education Committee Jan. 2014

2013 - 2014 S.B. 4999/ A.B. 7316 Dietetics Licensing Opposed; Passed Senate Higher Education Committee and sent to Finance May 13, 2014

2013 - 2014 S.B. 2954/A.B. 5329 Reflexology Licensing Opposed; not passed before end of session



2012 S.B. 3556/A.B. 5666 Dietitian Licensing Opposed; not passed before end of session2012 S.B. 1803/A.B. 3057 and A.B. 8569

Naturopathic Licensure billsOpposed and recommended amendment to exempt unlicensed practitioners; not passed before end of session

2011 S.B. 3556 /A.B. 5666 Dietitian/Nutritionists Licensing bills


2011 S.B. 1803 and A.B. 1937 Naturopathic Doctor Licensing bill


2008 A.B. 8733 Safe Harbor Exemption Health Freedom bill


North Carolina 2015 S.B. 346 Repealing the religious exemption for required immunizations

Oppose; (S) No action since referred to committee on health care on 03/23/2015

2015 S.B. 118 Naturopathic Doctors Licensing Act Oppose; (S) referred to Committee on Rules and Operations on Feb. 27, 2015

2013 S.B. 349 Naturopathic Doctor Licensure Opposed; not passed before end of session2013 H.B. 676 Eliminate Dietetics Nutrition Board Supported; not passed before end of session2012 H.B. 446 Requires labeling of GMO-foods and

milk or milk products from animals that have received Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (Rbgh)


2011 S.B. 31 Felony law increasing penalties for misrepresenting oneself as a licensed medical doctor

Opposed and offered amendments;Passed with amendments after conference committee and signed by Governor

2011 S.B. 467 Naturopathic Licensing bill Opposed; not passed before end of session2007-2009 H.B. 842 Safe Harbor Exemption bills Supported; not passed before end of session

Ohio 2015 S.B. 194 Ohio Consumer Health Freedom Bill Support; Introduced by Senator Kris Jordan on July 8, 2015 and awaiting committee assignments

2015 S.B. 121 Requiring Meningitis vaccine and Dept. of Health Rulemaking to specify age

Opposed; Passed (H) on June 25, 2015 and signed by Governor on July 16, 2015

2013 – 2014 H.B. 259 Complementary and Alternative Health Care Services Access

Supported; ready and waiting for Senate sponsor to introduce to Senate

2012 H.B. 259 Complementary and Alternative Health Care Services Access

Supported, passed out of the House May 24, 2012 (66 to 29); introduced in the Senate May 29, 2012

2011 H.B. 259 Complementary and Alternative Health Care Services Access

Supported; Heard by Committee on Health and Aging September 21, 2011 but no vote taken


Supported; Not passed before end of session

2009 Safe Harbor Exemption health freedom bill Supported; Not passed before end of session2008 H.B. 580 Safe Harbor Exemption health

freedom billSupported; Not passed before end of session

Oklahoma 2015 S.B. 279 Repealing Safe Harbor Exemption language

Oppose; no movement since second reading on 2/3/2015

2015 S.B. 615 Expanding Dietitian Scope of Practice Oppose; (S) Engrossed and to House in March but no movement since (H) Second Reading on March 17, 2015

2015 S.B. 687 Massage Therapy Licensing Oppose; (S) no action taken since second read and referred to committee on Feb. 3, 2015

2015 S.B.830 Eliminating all non-medical exemptions to vaccinations

Oppose; no movement since second reading and referred to Health on March 3, 2015

2015 H.B. 1370 GMO-Labeling Support; No movement since was read a second time and referred to Rules on 2/3/2015

2012 H.B. 2509 Repealing the police power protection sections of occupation practice acts, including dietetics, and consolidating the criminal and civil actions that can be taken against an "unlicensed" person

Opposed, but once occupation of dietetics removed, neutral; Did not pass

2012 H.B. 2630 Repealing Safe Harbor Exemption language

Opposed; Did not move before session ended



1994 Exemptions for practices not allopathic and mentioning protection of homeopathic

Passed

Oregon 2015 S.B. 298 Requires regulation of bodywork in same manner that law currently regulates massage

Opposed; (S) no movement since referred to Business and Transportation in January 2015

2015 S.B. 442 Requiring additional signature requirements for exercising a personal belief exemption

Opposed; (S) in Committee upon adjournment July 6, 2015

2015 S.B. 731 Prohibit Employers from mandating vaccinations as a condition of employee

Supported; (S) in Committee upon adjournment

2015 H.B. 3121 Referring the GMO-Labeling Act to the people for approval or rejection at next regular general election

Supported; (S) in committee upon adjournment July 6, 2015

2013 H.B. 2996 Acupuncture – restrict supplement and dietary advice


Pennsylvania 2015 S.B. 612/H.B. 516 Naturopathic Doctor Licensure

Neutral; No Movement since referred to (H) Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Feb. 23, 2015; (S) on March 13, 2015

2015 H.B. 883 Eliminating philosophical belief exemptions from vaccination requirements and restricting religious belief exemptions

Oppose; No action since referred to the House Committee on Health on 4/6/2015

2013-2014 H.B. 612 Naturopathic Doctor Licensure Neutral; Not passed before end of session2011-2012 H.B. 1717 Naturopathic Licensure Opposed; Not passed before end of session2008 H.B. 2499 Massage Therapy licensure Opposed; Passed

Rhode Island 2015 S.B. 94 / H.B. 5380 Naturopathic Physician Licensing

Opposed; Committee recommended be held for further study in March 2015

2015 S.B. 331/ H.B. 5501 Naturopathic Physician Licensing

Opposed; Committee recommended be held for further study in March 2015

2015 S.B.381 Eliminate religious exemptions to vaccination requirements

Opposed; Health Committee recommended be held for further study in March 2015

2015 S.B. 93/H.B. 5502 GMO-Labeling Supported; (S) and (H) Committee(s) recommend be held for further study April 9 and March 15, 2015, respectively

2014 H.B. 8070/S.B. 2874 Naturopathic Licensure TBD; Introduced April and died May 20142012 H.B.7494 Requiring GMO-Labeling Supported; not passed before end of session2001 Safe Harbor Exemption bill SUPPORTED AND PASSED

South Dakota 2012 H.B. 1170 Emerging Complementary and Alternative Health Care Professions Licensure Board bill

Opposed and Tabled

Tennessee 2015 S.B. 696/H.B. 1218 GMO-Labeling Supported; (H) deferred action until 2016 in March 2015

2012-2013 H.B. 3678 Requiring GMO-Labeling Supported; not passed before end of sessionTexas 2015 H.B. 2006, Repealing conscientious and

religious exemptions to vaccinationsOppose; No action since referred to the Public Health Committee on March 11, 2015

2015 H.B. 1674, Restricting Religious Belief Exemptions

Oppose; no action since referred to Public Health on March 9, 2015

2013 HJR 125 Health Freedom Constitutional Amendment proposal


2011 H.B. 1716 Complementary and Alternative Health Care Services bill

Supported; No vote taken

2009 S.B. 40 Safe Harbor exemption health freedom bill

Supported; Tabled at first hearing

2007 S.B. 1209 Dietitian Licensing Opposed and DefeatedUtah 2014 H.B. 324 Exemption for Ortho-bionomy and

professions with standards and ethicsOpposed; Passed March 20, 2014

2014 H.B. 207 Exemptions for Ortho-bionomy and needing to be an industry occupation

Opposed; Passed March 19, 2014 (superseded H.B. 324)

Vermont 2015 H.B. 266 Requiring all school students, teachers, administrators, and staff to be fully vaccinated

Opposed; (H) No action since referred to Health Care on Feb.20, 2015



unless he or she qualifies for a medical exemption

2015 S.B.87 Eliminating religious belief exemptions to vaccination and H.B.212 eliminates both religious and philosophical belief exemptions to vaccination

Opposed; (S) No action since referred to Health and Welfare on Feb.20, 2015

2014 H.B. 644 Massage Licensure Opposed; no action taken since Referred to Committee on Government Operations on Jan. 21, 2014

2013 - 2014 H.B. 112 Mandatory GMO Labeling Supported, Passed and Signed into law May 8, 2014

2012 H.B. 722 Requiring GMO-Labeling Supported; not passed before end of sessionVirginia 2015 H.B. 1591 GMO-Labeling Supported; Left in Agriculture Committee on

Feb.8, 20152011-2012 H.B. 345 Dietitian Licensing bill Opposed and Tabled2011-2012 H.B. 543 Massage Licensing bill Opposed, but after successful negotiations for

health freedom amendments, became neutral; Governor vetoed

2012 S.B. 606 Requiring GMO-Labeling Supported; not passed before end of session2011 H.B. 2487 Naturopathic Licensing bill Opposed; Tabled2010 Study bill to not include traditional naturopaths Opposed and Defeated2009 H.B. 1744 Safe Harbor Exemption health

freedom billSupported; Tabled Indefinitely

2009 H.B. 1820 Naturopathic Physician licensing bill Opposed and Defeated2008 H.B. 784 Naturopathic Physician licensing bill Opposed and Defeated

Washington 2015 H.B. 1252 Penalties for Unlicensed Massage or Reflexology

Opposed; Adopted April 17, 2015

2015 H.B. 2009 Eliminate personal belief exemptions to vaccination requirements

Opposed; (H) Reintroduced and retained in present status on June 28, 2015

2013 I – 522 GMO Labeling Ballot Initiative Supported and Failed in November 2013 Election

2012 H.B. 2637 / S.B. 6298 Requires GMO-labeling Supported; not passed before end of session2009 H.B. 1961 Safe Harbor Exemption health

freedom billSupported; No hearing

2009 WA Dept. of Health Sunrise Review Hearing concerning registration of colon hydrotherapist

Opposed registration: No regulation went forward

2007 S.B. 6034/H.B. 2266 Safe harbor exemption health freedom bill

Supported; No hearing

West Virginia 2015 S.B. 286/H.B. 2556 Providing religious exemptions from mandatory immunizations for school children; requiring parents and guardians to assert their beliefs in affidavit

Supported then, once religious exemption removed, Opposed; Passed and Chaptered on April 15, 2015

2013 H.B. 2533 Dietitian Licensure Opposed; not passed before end of session2012 H.B. 4045 Dietitian Licensing bill Opposed; not passed before end of session2012 H.B. 2178 Requiring GMO-Labeling Supported; not passed before end of session

Wisconsin 2015-2016 S.B. 198/A.B.370 Wisconsin Consumer Choice and Wellness Legislation

Support; Assigned to Health Committee(s) in August 2015 and awaiting hearing date

2015-2016 S.B. 218 Prohibiting Employer Mandatory Flu Vaccine Requirement for Employees

Support; Assigned to Health Committee August 2015 and awaiting hearing date

2013 - 2014 S.B. 280 Wisconsin Consumer Choice and Wellness Legislation

Supported; Redrafted and not introduced

2011-2012 S.B. 280 Wisconsin Consumer Choice and Wellness Legislation


2011 - 2012 LRB 0253/1 Dietitian Licensing Opposed and Defeated2009 - 2010 A.B. 440/ S.B. 115 Dietitian Licensing Opposed and Defeated2009 Safe Harbor Exemption health freedom bill Supported; not passed before end of session2008 S.B. 394 Dietitian Licensing Opposed and Defeated

Wyoming 2015 S.F. 86/H.D. 62 Massage Therapist Licensing Opposed; Died in Committee in March 2015



Arizona: In 2015, Arizona introduced a bill, S.B. 1398, to remove a law allowing parents who do not vaccinate their natural and adoptive children to be foster parents. NHFA opposed this discriminatory bill because, among other things, it infringed on the right to voluntary and informed decision-making about medical interventions by parents. S.B. 1398 did not pass before the legislature adjourned on April 3, 2015.

NHFA supported Arizona H.B. 2462 which would have required labeling of food containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The bill was assigned to the Senate Rules Committee on March 31, 2015 but did not pass before session ended.

NHFA is not aware of a health freedom group in Arizona at this time; please email NHFA for more information on Arizona or for help starting a health freedom group for Arizona residents.

Note Arizona - Enacted Health Freedom Law:2011 Arizona Safe Harbor Exemption Law: Arizona strengthened the law for independent homeopaths via passing a bill to repeal the criminal charges for the use of the title “homeopath” by unlicensed practitioners. The new law protectingthe practice of hahnmanian principles, exempts and protects “the practice of providing treatment of the spiritual vital force in accordance with hahnemanian principles through the use of remedies that are diluted beyond the concentration of substances in drinking water and prepared in the manner described in the homeopathic pharmacopoeia of the United States.

Arkansas: In 2015, Arkansas introduced a bill to create a Parents Bill of Rights, H.B. 1827, which would have prohibited certain actions without the consent of a parent; actions including consent to immunizations. Ultimately, H.B. 1827 did not pass before the legislature adjourned on April 22, 2015, but it was recommended for study in the interim by the Joint Interim Committee on Judiciary. Similar bills were also introduced in Colorado and Idaho this year. To connect with the Arkansas Health Freedom Coalition, email [email protected].

California: On June 30, 2015, a frightening bill, S.B.277, was signed into law. S.B. 277 will prevent children from being able to attend private and public schools unless they have received all the government recommended vaccines. S.B. 277 stripped CA parents of their right to decline vaccines based on religious or philosophical reasons, leaving only medical exemptions. Now, after becoming the third state nationwide to adopt such a strict immunization standard - joining Mississippi and West Virginia - Californians are working on the S.B. 277 Referendum which would allow the people to veto S.B. 277. If enough signatures are gathered, the S.B. 277 Referendum would appear on the November ballot; if not, S.B. 277 is to go into effect in July 2016.

Thanks to the thousands of parents, grandparents, health practitioners, concerned citizens and others who worked so hard to defeat S.B. 277 from before its first of three Senate hearings, on April 8th, through its three postponed Assembly floor votes and even after the Senate concurred in the Assembly amendments on June 29, 2015, when it was ordered to engrossing and enrolling. NHFA remains in communication with many California leaders who are equally dedicated to preventing S.B. 277 from even being implemented.

California still does not have a GMO-Labeling law to celebrate in 2015 despite leading the charge on this issue at the legislature many years ago and numerous nearly successful attempts in recent years. .

Connect with the California Health Freedom Coalition at www.californiahealthfreedom.com or the California Citizens for Health Freedom at www.citizenshealth.org.

Note California - Enacted Health Freedom Laws:2005 Safe Harbor Exemption from naturopathic doctor registration requirements.

2001 California Safe Harbor Exemption Law: California’s health freedom law protects consumer access to practitioners that are not conventional medical health care occupations licensed by the state, such as herbalists,



http://www.citizenshealth.org/

http://www.californiahealthfreedom.com/

mailto:[email protected]

traditional naturopaths, homeopaths, and other healing arts practitioners practicing in the public domain. Practitioners have an exemption from state medical licensing requirements if they practice within the safe harbor law which includes a duty to avoid prohibited conduct and to give out disclosures to their clients spelled out in the law.

Connecticut: NHFA was neutral on H.B. 5915, a bill recognizing and allowing to practice nationally-certified classical homeopaths, because we do not agree with the requirement that all classical homeopaths have to be CCH certified to practice. The House Public Health Committee reserved H.B. 5915 for public hearing on February 11, 2015 but it did not occur before the Connecticut legislature adjourned on June 3, 2015. This bill was similar to 2013-2014 CT H.B. 5327.

This session, Connecticut also introduced two bills infringing on the right to voluntary and informed decision-making about medical interventions: H.B. 5448, requiring employees of health care institutions to be vaccinated against the flu every year as a condition for employment, and H.B. 6949, restricting religious exemptions to vaccinations. NHFA is sad to report that H.B. 6949 passed and was signed by the Governor on July 2, 2015. Now, parents’ statement seeking a religious exemption from a required immunization must be notarized.

Also in 2015, bills to make CT’s GMO-labeling law effective immediately were introduced but did not pass. H.B. 5726 and H.B. 6042 sought to eliminate the trigger clause for the effectiveness of CT’s labeling law, which says it will go into effect only after four other states pass similar laws too. CT became the first state to pass a bill requiring labeling of GMO/GE foods when CT H.B. 6527 was signed in December 2013.

NHFA is not aware of a currently active health freedom group in Connecticut at this time; please email NHFA for more information on Connecticut or for help starting a health freedom group for Connecticut residents.

Colorado: In 2015, Colorado introduced S.B.15-77 to prohibit the state or any other government entity in CO from infringing upon the fundamental rights of a parent to direct the upbringing, education, and physical and mental health care of his or her child without first demonstrating that there is a compelling governmental interest and no less restrictive manner of doing so. The bill specifically protects voluntary and informed decision-making about medical interventions, such as vaccinations, by reaffirming legal autonomy rights, such as exemptions from vaccination, under the state laws of CO. S.B.15-77 was postponed indefinitely on March 17, 2015.

Also in 2015, Colorado passed a bill to restore parents’ right to seek naturopathic services for children under two-years-old. H.B. 1075 removed a provision in the 2013 Naturopathic Doctors Licensing Bill, HB13-1111, that prevented Naturopaths from treating anyone under 2 years of age. The Governor signed H.B. 1075 on March 26, 2015. However, this prohibition is still in place for practitioners practicing under CO’s Safe Harbor Exemption law, also passed in 2013. In 2013, when Colorado became the ninth Safe Harbor state, their bill passed with an amendment that was not supported by the health freedom community; it stated that unlicensed natural health practitioners would not treat children less than two years old and established restrictions on treating children less than eight years old. NHFA, CSHFF and Parental Rights.org will work to repeal those portions in 2016.

Connect with the Colorado Sunshine Health Freedom Foundation, at [email protected] or with the Colorado Springs Citizens for health Freedom at [email protected].

Note Colorado - Enacted Health Freedom Laws:2013 Colorado Safe Harbor Exemption Law: Colorado’s health freedom law protects consumer access to practitioners who are not conventional medical health care occupations licensed by the state, such as herbalists, traditional naturopaths, homeopaths, and other healing arts practitioners practicing in the public domain. Practitioners have an exemption from state licensing requirements for health care professions included in Title 12 C.R.S. if they practice within the safe harbor law which includes a duty to avoid prohibited conduct and to give out disclosures to their clients spelled out in the law. The Colorado Natural Health Consumer Protection Act, Colorado Senate Bill 13-215, was signed into law by Colorado Governor Hickenlooper on June 5, 2013.




Delaware: Quiet in 2015…No activity reported since 2011 NHFA Update. NHFA is not aware of a health freedom group in Delaware at this time; please email NHFA for more information on Delaware or for help starting a health freedom group for Delaware residents.

Note Delaware - Enacted Health Freedom Law:2007 Delaware Safe Harbor Exemption clause is in the DE Dietitian law for persons giving nutritional advice without being licensed as a dietitian. The amendment exempts persons from criminal charges of practicing Dietetics without a license who are herbalists, retailers, or other persons making recommendations as long as they do not hold themselves out as a licensed Dietitian or Nutritionist.

Florida: In 2015, Florida introduced bills to require the labeling of foods containing GMOs, however, the bills did not pass; H.B. 351 died in Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee on April 28, 2015 and S.B. 416 died in Agriculture on May 1, 2015.

Since 2004, Florida Health Freedom Coalition (an educational non-profit organization) and its sister organization, Florida Health Freedom Action (a lobbying organization), have worked hard to promote Safe Harbor Exemption legislation but they have not yet passed their bill. NHFA looks forward to helping them strategize in future sessions. Connect with Florida Health Freedom Coalition/Action at [email protected].

Note Florida - Enacted Health Freedom Law:2003 Florida Governor’s Proclamation on Health Freedom supports the right of unlicensed practitioners to practice and consumers to have access to those practitioners. (See Proclamation at: http://www.nationalhealthfreedom.org/InfoCenter/reports/proclamation.pdf)

Hawaii: NHFA is happy to report that the Hawaii State Auditor recommended the state not license Herbal Therapists, in response to Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 31-14, Sunrise Review of Herbal Therapy Licensure, which passed in April 2014. SCR 31-14 asked the Hawaii Sunrise Review Committee to study whether Hawaii should mandate government endorsed education and licensure of all herbalists. NHFA submitted formal opposition comments to the study agency to persuade them recommend against Licensing for Herbal Therapists and was in touch with the agency until its recommendations become public on December 23, 2015. NHFA hopes the legislature will heed the auditor’s recommendation so that restrictive bills to unnecessarily regulate the practice of herbal therapy, like S.B.2439 /H.B. 2091, in 2014, and S.B.195/H.B.1366, in 2013, are no longer introduced.

In 2015, Hawaii again introduced numerous bills to label GMO-containing foods but none of them passed before session ended on May 7, 2015.

NHFA is not aware of a health freedom group in Hawaii at this time; please email NHFA for more information on Hawaii or for help starting a health freedom group for Hawaii residents.

Idaho: Idaho repealed the state’s Naturopathic Licensing law in 2015 with the passage of S.B. 1777. S.B. 1777 was signed by the Governor on April 10, 2015 and went into effect on July 1, 2015. NHFA did not support or oppose S.B. 1777, nor did we take a position on S.B.181, a bill adding to the Naturopathic Licensing law, because Idaho is a health freedom state and the bill language did not appear to conflict with the current law for unlicensed practitioners. S.B. 181 was returned to the Senate and failed to pass on March 31, 2015.

NHFA is not aware of a health freedom group in Idaho at this time; please email NHFA for more information on Idaho or for help starting a health freedom group for Idaho residents.

Note Idaho- Enacted Health Freedom Laws:2010 Idaho Safe Harbor Exemption law for unlicensed practitioners to the Naturopathic Physician Act.

1976 Idaho Oldest Safe Harbor Exemption law exempting from medical licensing requirements:A person who administers treatment or provides advice regarding the human body and its functions that:(i) Does not use legend drugs or prescription drugs in such practice;(ii) Uses natural elements such as air, heat, water and light;



http://www.nationalhealthfreedom.org/InfoCenter/reports/proclamation.pdf


(iii) Only uses class I or class II nonprescription, approved, medical devices as defined in section 513 of the federal food, drug and cosmetic act;(iv) Only uses vitamins, minerals, herbs, natural food products and their extracts, and nutritional supplements; and who(v) Does not perform surgery;(vi) Requires each person receiving services to sign a declaration of informed consent which includes an overview of the health care provider’s education which states that the health care provider is not an "M.D." or "D.O." and is not licensed under the provisions of this chapter.

Illinois: NHFA is sad to report that S.B. 1410, a bill to severely restrict religious exemptions to vaccination, was passed and adopted on August 3, 2015. NHFA opposed S.B. 1410 because it requires parents who object to immunizations to have their objection form signed by a religious official attesting to a bona fide religious objection and to have that signature notarized. Now, it will no longer be sufficient for Illinois parents to present a signed statement of objection detailing the grounds for their objection.

Illinois again introduced restrictive Naturopathic licensure bills (S.B. 1601/H.B.3508) in 2015. Fortunately, the bills did not pass before session ended. Additionally, NHFA supported IL’s GMO-Labeling attempts in 2015 but the bill, S.B. 734, did not meet the Senate’s third reading deadline of May, 31, 2015 and the bill died.

Connect with Illinois Citizens for Health Freedom, at Illinois Citizens for Health Freedom , or the Illinois Sunshine Health Freedom Coalition, at [email protected]. Both groups are eager to grow their memberships to support them in their effort to get a health freedom bill introduced.

NHFA did not travel to Chicago this summer for the Chicago Health Freedom Expo, sponsored by The Healthkeepers Alliance, because it did not take place in 2014 and 2015.

Indiana: In 2015, Indiana introduced GMO-labeling bills, S.B. 264/H.B. 1460; however there has been no movement on the bill(s) since they were introduced in January 2015.

NHFA is not aware of a health freedom group in Indiana at this time; please email NHFA for more information on Indiana or for help starting a health freedom group for Indiana residents. Indiana is a strong natural health state including the presence of Healthkeepers Alliance, the sponsor of the Health Freedom Expos, and of Trinity College. Connect with the Healthkeepers Alliance at www.healthkeepersalliance.org.

Iowa: In 2015, Iowa introduced bills to study Naturopathic Licensure, H.S.B. 51/S.S.B. 1067. NHFA reached out to the bill’s sponsors early in 2015 to share our opposition with the language of the bill. Soon after, we learned that the bill was not going to move this session and would instead be worked on over the summer. NHFA and Iowa citizens can again thank Representative Muhlbauer and Patty Muhlbauer for helping to stop legislation that would jeopardize the ability of herbalists, traditional naturopaths, homeopaths, and many others to practice in Iowa.

NHFA is not aware of a health freedom group in Iowa at this time; please email NHFA for more information on Iowa or for help starting a health freedom group for Iowa residents. Iowa Health Freedom Coalition has historically been the face of health freedom at the Iowa capitol and worked to introduce a Safe Harbor Exemption bill in 2010 and oppose a Naturopathic Physician Licensing bill in 2010. The organization is currently not active but leaders came forth in the time of need in 2011, 2012 and 2014. In 2009, they introduced a Safe Harbor Exemption bill, HF855.

Kansas: Kansas introduced bills to License Massage Therapists, S.B. 40/H.B. 2123, but they have not moved since the Senate version was heard on February 3, 2015 in the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee. NHFA opposes these bills because the exemptions in the bill for unlicensed practitioners are not sufficient to protect their ongoing practices without fear of being shut down for unlicensed practice of massage.

Contacts working for health freedom in Kansas are seeking a team to work for their own health freedom legislation. Two Board members from NHFA and one Board member from NHFC are located in Kansas and they participated in the gatherings and are very interested in joining together with advocates for health freedom. In addition, Dale Scott,



http://www.healthkeepersalliance.org/


http://www.illinoiscitizensforhealthfreedom.org/

national Board member of Sunshine Health Freedom Foundation, is located in Kansas and is eager to gain supporters for the movement. Connect with Kansans by emailing Betty Russell at [email protected] .

Kentucky: Quiet in 2015…No activity reported since 2011 NHFA Update. Sunshine Health Freedom Foundation has a coordinator in Kentucky named JD Riggs. NHFA has been in contact with Mr. Riggs regarding possible health freedom bill language and Riggs is communicating with his Representative and is organizing to start on a Health Freedom Bill for Kentucky. Connect with Mr. Riggs at [email protected].

Louisiana: Quiet in 2015…No activity reported since 2014 NHFA Update. Connect with Louisiana Health Freedom Coalition at [email protected] or at www.LHFC.info.

Note Louisiana- Enacted Health Freedom Law:2006 Louisiana Safe Harbor Law: Louisiana is one of the ten states that have passed a Safe Harbor Exemption health freedom law that provides safe harbor to the unlicensed practitioners. Louisiana Health Freedom Coalition (LHFC) has been very committed to having a stellar law to protect their natural health care practitioners and we commend LHFC and their wonderful President, Cynthia Reed, and her team for their national leadership in this effort.

Maine: In 2015, NHFA supported Health Choice and many others to successfully oppose Maine LD 606, Eliminating Personal Belief Exemptions to Vaccinations. The bill died on May 29, 2015 when it was place in legislative files pursuant to Joint Rule 310.3. NHFA also opposed H.P. 310 (L.D. 471), a bill to require a parent seeking a philosophical exemption to be educated by a health care practitioner and to provide documentation of the educational appointment with the health care practitioner’s signature. H.P. 310 came very close to becoming law in Maine but, fortunately, the Governor vetoed the bill and the House concurred in the governor veto on June 30, 2015.

Like Connecticut’s bill to remove the trigger clause from its 2013 GMO-labeling law, Maine introduced S.P. 478 (L.D. 1326) in 2015 to make its Mandatory GMO-Labeling law (2013 ME H.P. 490) effective in January 2017. On June 30, S.P. 478 essentially died when it was “carried over into any special or regular session of the127th legislature” in the Senate.

To connect with Maine, contact Pamela Gerry at [email protected]. In 2007, Maine LD 1516 and SP 539, entitled the Act to Permit Certain Health Care Practices, were introduced and on June 13th, the Majority “ought not to pass” report was accepted and the bills died. Maine is interested in building a larger freedom group now to work for the future.

Maryland: In 2015, Maryland introduced a bill to repeal its law for religious exemptions to the state’s immunization requirements. Fortunately, the bill was withdrawn on March 17, 2015 after receiving an unfavorable report by the House Health and Government Operations Committee.

NHFA was sad to report in 2014 that the restrictive H.B. 402/S.B. 314 Naturopathic Medicine Licensing bills passed in MD. The new law is broad in scope and contains no exemptions in it to protect natural health practitioners and traditional naturopaths from restrictive licensing and educational requirements. The bills were approved by the Governor on April 14, 2014. NHFA was not in contact with anyone in MD who was actively working to stop these bills. Please encourage anyone you know in MD to step forward to help get an exemption to this new restrictive law.

Also in 2014, Maryland unsuccessfully attempted to increase restrictions as to what types of practitioners were allowed to do healing bodywork under its Massage Licensing law with H.B. 1156/ S.B. 817. NHFA joined Healing Touch Program and other groups to oppose these bills and they were withdrawn in both bodies in Feb. 2014.

Maryland needs a health freedom group now; please email NHFA for more information on Maryland or for help starting a health freedom group for Maryland residents. In 2010, Maryland got their health freedom bill, H.B. 541, introduced in the House and Senate and heard in both bodies. The bill was heard in both House and Senate with good turn out and education happening, but was not voted out of committee. They did not reintroduce the bill in 2011-2015 because the health freedom leaders had other commitments and one of the members of their advocate team became very ill.




http://www.LHFC.info/




Massachusetts: In 2015, Health Freedom Action Massachusetts successfully introduced their health freedom legislation, S.B. 1136/ H.B. 2033, and the bills are likely to be heard in committee in November. S.B. 1136/ H.B. 2033 would protect access to the traditional, natural health care practitioners in MA. Congratulations to HFAMA!

Massachusetts also sought to expand its vaccine exemption rights in 2015 with S.B. 317, a bill to add Personal Belief Exemptions to Immunization laws. NHFA was especially glad to support this bill given the restrictive trend of exemption bills across the nation this session but there has not been any movement on the bill since a Joint Committee on Education hearing was scheduled for June 3, 2015. NHFA also supported MA H.B. 3242, requiring GMO-labeling for food and seed, but the bill has not been assigned a hearing since being referred to committee in January 2015.

Also in 2015, Massachusetts introduced bills to create a Naturopathy Registration Board, S.B. 1205/H.B. 1992. NHFA opposed these bills because they sought to restrict the use of the title “naturopath” and to define naturopathic health care but they haven’t moved since being referred to committee on April 15, 2015.

To connect with Health Freedom Action Massachusetts, please visit www.hfama.org and/or email Hilary, at [email protected]. Massachusetts Health Freedom Action was reinvigorated in 2014 with the addition of Hilary Garvis to its leadership team and they continue to gain supporters as they work with a lobbying firm to pass their health freedom bill. NHFA looks forward to continuing to work with HFAMA in 2015-2016 to move their bill forward.

Michigan: NHFA is happy to report that last year, after NHFA released its 2014 State Update, Michigan’s bill to Deregulate Dietetics/Nutrition, H.B. 4688/S.B. 579, was passed into law! The Governor approved H.B. 4688 on July 1, 2014 and now their restrictive Dietitian law, which prohibited free speech regarding nutrition and food, has been repealed. Thank you to all those Michigan citizens who worked on this great effort.

In 2015, H.B. 4531, a Naturopathic Physician Licensure bill was introduced and was referred to the House Committee on Health Policy on April 29. NHFA is currently neutral on H.B. 4531 because it keeps terms like naturopath, naturopathic practitioner, naturopathy, etc., in the public domain and it doesn’t restrict the provision of unlicensed services; however the exemptions for unlicensed practitioners is vague so NHFA is considering suggesting amendments or opposing the bill in the future. The bill is sponsored by Representatives Lyons, Schor, Darany, Irwin, Dillon and Crawford.

There has not been any progress on the “Michigan Consumer Health Freedom Law” in 2015 which was introduced by Representative Joel Johnson in the 2013-2014 session (see H.B. 4738). The bill is no longer alive and needs to be reintroduced. Michigan has a very restrictive Dietitian Licensing law (see 2006-2007 S.B.403) that passed without adequate exemptions for unlicensed nutrition providers. Michigan is the home of Reiki International (www.reiki.org) and its founder and Director, William Lee Rand, Reiki Master.

To connect with Michigan leaders, please contact NHFA. Michigan Natural Health Coalition and Michigan health freedom advocates are not mobilized at the present time but would welcome any new advocates to join the cause of getting a health freedom bill passed there.

Minnesota: The 2015 work for Minnesota health freedom advocates began when S.F. 380/H.F. 393 was introduced on January 29, 2015 seeking to make opting out of childhood vaccinations more difficult for MN parents. Under current law, parents can opt children out of vaccinations for medical reasons if approved by doctors, or because they hold conscientiously held beliefs if they present notarized forms to their schools. But, S.F. 380/H.F. 393 would require those parents to first talk to a Physician and obtain a statement from the MD or DO verifying that he/she has reviewed with the parent information about the risks and benefits of the vaccines that is consistent with information published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Unfortunately, S.F. 380 was passed out of the Senate Health, Human Services and Housing Committee and received a second reading in the Senate on March, 23, 2015. H.F. 393 has not moved since it was introduced on January 29, 2015. The bills are still alive. NHFA worked with many health freedom activists and organizations to oppose S.F. 380/H.F. 393 by organizing two Lobby Days at the Capitol and working with Lobbyist, Jim Abeler, to maintain the status quo on vaccine exemptions in MN. NHFA remains committed to working with a coalition of organizations in 2015-2016 to ensure the bills die and are not reintroduced for a long time.



http://www.healthfreedomma.org/


Also, in response to S.F. 380/H.F. 393, MN activists introduced S.F. 1870/ H.F. 1978, Health care providers vaccination reporting and disclosure requirements. NHFA supported this effort but no action has been taken on the bill(s) since being referred to (S) Health and Human Services and Housing Committee on March 18, 2015 and since introduced in the House on March 17, 2015.

NHFA also opposed MN S.F. 1310, the Massage and Bodywork Therapy Act, which sought to remove local control of the profession by creating a state licensing law. There has been no movement on it since being referred to (S) Health Committee on March 4, 2015. NHFA supported S.F. 335/H.F. 351, Mandatory GMO-Labeling bills and participated in a Lobby Day at the MN Capitol that was hosted by the MN Right to Know organization. Unfortunately, neither bill has moved since introduced in January 2015.

Regarding Minnesota’s 2014 S.F. 1642, the Expanded Practice Act for Licensed Practitioners, NHFA is happy to report that the bill was passed into law on May 21, 2014. S.F. 1642 was introduced to protect and strengthen the right of licensed health care professionals to use complementary and alternative health care and refer to unlicensed practitioners. The language of the new law initially was not acceptable so NHFA had to oppose S.F. 1642 as written. But, after health freedom amendments were added, NHFA supported the bill and testified on behalf of it. The amended version was added to the MN Health Policy Omnibus bill, S.B. 2087, which was passed out of both chambers and engrossed on May 9, 2014.

To connect with the Minnesota Natural Health - Legal Reform Project (MNH-LRP), please contact Leo at [email protected] or visit www.mnhlrp.org/. MNH-LRP was the lead lobbying group for MN146A, the Minnesota Complementary and Alternative Health Freedom of Access Act of 1999, and they continue to monitor bills at the state capitol to keep legislators informed about top priority issues for health freedom. To connect with the Minnesota Natural Health Coalition, contact Lee at (612) 721–7108 or visit www.minnesotanaturalhealth.org.

Note Minnesota - Enacted Health Freedom Law:1999 Minnesota Safe Harbor Exemption Law: MN146A Minnesota Complementary and Alternative Health Freedom of Access Act of 1999 was one of the first Safe Harbor Exemption laws passed!

Mississippi: In 2015, Mississippi introduced H.B. 130/ S.B. 2800, to allow for conscientious beliefs exemptions from vaccinations. H.B. 130/ S.B. 2800 defend and protect the right to voluntary and informed decision-making about medical interventions by acknowledging that those without medical-based reasons for exempting have legal autonomy rights under the state laws of Mississippi too. NHFA supported H.B. 130/ S.B. 2800 but it died on the (H) calendar on February 12, 2015 and (S) died in Committee on February 3, 2015.

Also, NHFA was watching H.B. 725, a Naturopathic Licensure bill, but the bill died in (H) Committee back in February 2015.

NHFA is not aware of a health freedom group in Mississippi at this time; please email NHFA for more information on Mississippi or for help starting a health freedom group for Mississippi residents.

Missouri: Missouri introduced S.B. 329/H.B. 1963, bills to require employees and volunteers of public and private institutions to be vaccinated against the flu every year. NHFA opposed the bills because they would infringe on the right to voluntary and informed decision-making about preventative health medical interventions for MO citizens. Fortunately, there has been no movement in the Senate since the bill’s second reading and referral to (S) Veterans’ Affairs and Health Committee on February 12, 2015 and House bill hasn’t moved since May 2014.

NHFA supported 2015 MO H.B. 168, a bill to require GMO-Labeling. The bill was referred to (H) Emerging Issues on May 15, 2015.

NHFA is not aware of a health freedom group in Missouri at this time; please email NHFA for more information on Missouri or for help starting a health freedom group for Missouri residents. In spring 2014, health freedom advocates in Missouri launched the Missouri Health Freedom Campaign to explore the possibility of passing a health freedom bill




in their state. They have a campaign site, http://mhfc.weebly.com/, and in April 2014 Diane Miller traveled to Kansas City and met with their leaders to discuss the process of passing a Safe Harbor Exemption law.

Montana: Quiet in 2015…No activity reported since 2011 NHFA Update. To connect with the Montana Health Freedom Coalition, please contact Linda Peterson at [email protected] or visit www.montanahealthfreedom.org.Continued gratitude for Montana health freedom leaders’ three years of preparation, and Montana Health Freedom Coalition’s work in 2009! The Consumer Health Freedom and Access Act, sponsored by Senator Balyeat, passed the Senate 32-18 on February 23, 2009! After passing the Senate Committees, on March 24, 2009, the health freedom bill, S.B.287, was tabled in a House Committee 14-4. Montana’s bill would have provided a safe harbor exemption and protected access to herbalists, traditional naturopaths, homeopaths, and the many natural health care practitioners of Montana that consumers regularly use. We look forward to helping them introduce their bill again in the future.

Nevada: Congratulations Nevada for officially becoming the 10th Health Freedom state on July 1, 2015! Nevada’s Governor signed A.B. 295 into law on June 8, 2015! Introduced by Assemblyman Kirner in March and moved out of the Assembly on April 20 (Yeas: 40, Nays: 2), A.B. 295 passed the Senate unanimously (Yeas: 20, Nays: None, Excused: 1) on May 19! Thank you to everyone who sent messages of support for A.B. 295 to their legislators and to the Committee members who heard the bill. We are especially grateful to Jim Jenks, Sunshine Health Freedom Foundation Coordinator in Nevada, and lobbyist Alexis Miller for their work on marshalling A.B. 295 through the Nevada legislature.

The new law provides a state exemption for those practitioners providing wellness services who avoid a specific list of prohibited conduct (such as puncturing the skin or administering prescription drugs or telling people to go off their treatments recommended by their licensed health care professional) and who give out the disclosure information listed in the bill (such as contact information, education and training, and the nature of the services to be rendered). Click Here to Read A.B. 295.

Also in 2015, Nevada introduced S.B. 408, a Naturopathic Licensing bill on which NHFA was neutral. No further action was allowed on the bill as of April 11, 2015.

Note Nevada - Enacted Health Freedom Laws:2011 Nevada Safe Harbor Exemption clause is in the Nevada Dietitian law for persons giving nutritional advice without being licensed as a dietitian. The clause exempts persons from criminal charges of practicing Dietetics without a license as long as they do not hold themselves out as a licensed Dietitian or Registered Dietitian.

In 2011 Nevada introduced A.B. 289, a Dietician licensing bill, which had very restrictive language regarding unlicensed persons giving nutrition recommendations and advice. In the bill’s last committee when it appeared the bill had enough votes to possibly pass, we supported an amendment that exempted out unlicensed persons. The bill passed out of Committee and was signed by the Governor. The safe harbor amendment reads:

Sec. 9. 1. The provisions of this chapter do not apply to:… (d) A person who furnishes nutrition information, provides recommendations or advice concerning nutrition, or markets food, food materials or dietary supplements and provides nutrition information, recommendations or advice related to that marketing, if the person does not represent that he or she is a licensed dietitian or registered dietitian. While performing acts described in this paragraph, a person shall be deemed not to be engaged in the practice of dietetics or the providing of nutrition services.

New Hampshire: Quiet in 2015…No activity reported since 2011 NHFA Update. NHFA has health freedom contacts in New Hampshire but is not aware of an active health freedom group in New Hampshire at this time; please email NHFA for more information on New Hampshire or for help starting a health freedom group for New Hampshire residents.

New Jersey: In 2015, New Jersey introduced S.B. 1147 and A.B. 1931 to restrict religious exemptions to vaccinations. NHFA opposed the bills and S.B. 1147 never received a Senate floor vote after passing out of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on March 9. A.B. 1931 passed the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee (9y:1n) on March 16 and it is still awaiting an Assembly floor vote.



http://www.montanahealthfreedom.org/


The new health freedom group in New Jersey, the Natural Healing Alliance, got their feet wet at the Capitol last year when NHFA worked with them to strengthen a bill that was amending the NJ massage law to be less restrictive of the practices of energy healers and bodyworkers. NHFA helped them provide strong health freedom amendments to the Sponsor of the bill, Sen. Bucco, to make the exemption language in SB 1608 even stronger. NHFA looks forward to working with NHA in 2015-2016 to protect all natural healers in New Jersey.

For more information on New Jersey email NHFA or connect with New Jersey leader Susan Lieberman by visiting the Natural Healing Alliance.

New Mexico: In 2015, New Mexico introduced and successfully defeated H.B. 522, severely restricting religious exemptions to vaccination requirements. The bill died when the House Committee to which it was assigned postponed the bill indefinitely on February 3, 2015.

For more information on New Mexico email NHFA or connect with New Mexico leaders by contacting [email protected] or by visiting www.nmcaamp.org.

Note New Mexico - Enacted Health Freedom Law:2009 New Mexico Safe Harbor Exemption Law: New Mexico H.B.664, signed into law by the Governor on April 7, 2009, is a Safe Harbor Exemption law for persons engaged in traditional, cultural, complementary or alternative health care. New Mexico’s Complementary and Alternative Medicine Project (NMCAAMP) leaders successfully moved their exemption bill through to passage after two years of preparation and study mandated by the legislature.

New York: NHFA is watching many bills in New York in 2015 – some are familiar and others are new to us for New York. The practitioner bills NHFA is opposing include: bills for Dietitian and Nutritionist Licensure (S.B. 362/A.B. 1257), a bill to incorporate all Complementary and Alternative Medicine into the practice of Dietetics (A.B. 2108), and a Reflexology Licensing bill (A.B. 2286). We are happy to report that none of these bills has moved since being introduced and referred to committee(s) in January 2015. NHFA also opposes NY’s bills to regulate the practice of Naturopathic Medicine (S.B. 4917/A.B. 7035), which was referred to committee on April 23, 2015.

Among the vaccine exemption-related bills, NY A.B. 8329 is the most recently introduced, on August 05, 2015. A.B. 8329 seeks to repeal religious belief exemptions to immunizations. If this bill passes, New York would become the fourth state nationwide to adopt such a strict immunization standard, joining California, Mississippi, and West Virginia! Conversely, New York also introduced several vaccine bills that NHFA supports, such as: S.B. 943/S.B. 1536, which defends and protects the right to voluntary and informed decision-making about medical interventions by acknowledging that those without medical-based reasons for exempting have legal autonomy rights under the state laws of New York; A.B. 224, which prohibits employers from requiring their employees to be vaccinated as a condition for employment; and, S.B. 1536/A.B. 943, bills to add a philosophical exemption to vaccination requirements. S.B. 1536/A.B. 943, unfortunately, died on Feb. 9. 2015.

NHFA supports NYs many GMO–Labeling Bills, including S.B. 485/ A.B. 617 and S.B. 617/A.B.4233. We are not aware of any movement on the bills other than that S.B. 617 was amended on May 26, 2015 and S.B. 485 05/28/2015 was amended in the Senate and recommitted to Consumer Protection. The Assembly bills were referred to the Assembly Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee.

To connect with New York leaders, contact Kirk Bashaw at [email protected]. In the past NY introduced Safe Harbor health freedom bills to protect the right to practice naturopathy, homeopathy, herbalism and many other vocations. However those bills have not passed. The last one, A.B. 8733, was introduced January 30, 2007 by Assemblyman Michael Benedetto. A.B. 8733 sought to exempt unlicensed persons from criminal charges of practice of medicine. For the past 10 plus years New York has had two organizations working to protect health freedom and access to unlicensed practitioners, NY Health Freedom and NYNCPP. However, at this time, those organizations are not active.

North Carolina: In 2015, North Carolina introduced S.B. 346, repealing the religious exemption for required immunizations. NHFA opposed this bill which did not move since being referred to (S) Committee on Health Care on March 23, 2015.




http://www.nmcaamp.org/


http://www.naturalhealingalliance.org/

Also, in 2015, NHFA was watching S.B. 118, the Naturopathic Doctors Licensing Act bill. S.B. 118 was referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Operations on February 27, 2015 and no hearing has taken place.

To connect with North Carolina’s Citizens for Healthcare Freedom, contact [email protected] and visit www.citizensforhealthcarefreedom.org. North Carolina’s Citizens for Healthcare Freedom and their lobbyist and Ex. Dir. Michael Causy have done great work in North Carolina keeping a steady presence at the capitol. We hope that in the future they will consider re-filing their Consumer Health Freedom Act. Originally introduced in the 2009 session, the Consumer Health Freedom Act would protect North Carolina’s unlicensed traditional practitioners from charges of practicing medicine without a license.

The bill was “developed over years of work by notable health freedom advocates, in conjunction with a yearlong ‘legislative study’ by a ‘Legislative Study Committee.’ The study committee held a series of three public hearings in major NC cities (Raleigh, Asheville, New Bern) where more than four-hundred citizens expressed support for health freedom.”

Ohio: The Ohio Consumer Health Freedom Bill, protecting access to natural health care practitioners, was introduced by Senator Kris Jordan on July 8, 2015 and the bill is now awaiting committee assignment(s). A strong grassroots effort will soon after begin to flood the Senate as soon as there is a committee to target to get the bill scheduled for a hearing. The Ohio Sunshine Health Freedom Coalition remains the force behind the bill at the Capitol and they are eager to get back to lobbying after being without a Senate sponsor for their bill for several years now.

The Ohio health freedom bill was reintroduced in the Ohio General Assembly in 2013 after it passed the House of Representatives in 2012 (see H.B. 259). The Ohio Consumer Health Freedom bill protects consumer access to homeopaths, traditional naturopaths, nutritional consultants, and many other natural health and complementary and alternative practitioners providing services that do not rise to the level of concern requiring state licensure.

To connect with Ohio leaders, contact Susan Gingerich at [email protected] and visit www.ohiohealthfreedom.info. The Ohio Sunshine Health Freedom Coalition is a strong freedom organization with a mission to establish true health freedom in Ohio by passing "THE REAL HEALTH FREEDOM BILL" without a mandatory registration requirement. Ohio freedom advocates have persistently prepared for session and the group has worked hard reviewing language and garnering legislative support, including hiring a lobbyist and aligning with other organizations, in order that their bill will be successful in passage.

Oklahoma: In 2015 Oklahoma introduced a bill to repeal the Safe Harbor exemption language in their medical practice act, S.B. 279. NHFA was quick to reach out to our contacts at the Oklahoma capitol to assess the likelihood of S.B. 279 getting any traction. We are relieved to report that the bill has not moved since receiving a second reading on February 3, 2015. Two other practitioner bills were introduced in Oklahoma in 2015 but, again, neither received any action since a second reading and referral to committee in early 2015. These practitioner bills included S.B. 615, Expanding Dietitian Scope of Practice, and S.B. 687, a Massage Therapy Licensing bill.

Oklahoma joined the assault on vaccine exemption rights in 2015 with S.B. 830, a bill eliminating all non-medical exemptions to vaccinations. There has been no movement on S.B. 830 since a second reading and a referral to Health in March. NHFA supported H.B. 1370, a bill requiring GMO-Labeling of foods in Oklahoma, but it was referred to Rules on February 3, 2015 and has not move since then.

To connect with Oklahoma leaders, contact Oklahoma Health Freedom Action Network at [email protected]. Oklahoma Health Freedom Action Network has been a health freedom leader in Oklahoma and has worked hard to defeat restrictive licensing bills in the past years that would restrict access to natural and holistic practitioners.

Note Oklahoma - Enacted Health Freedom Law:1994 Oklahoma homeopathic exemption law: Oklahoma passed the law that distinguished allopathic medicine from homeopathic care. Oklahoma is a health freedom state!




http://www.ohiohealthfreedom.info/


http://www.citizensforhealthcarefreedom.org/


Oregon: NHFA opposed S.B. 442, a bill adding additional signature requirements for parents to exercise a personal belief exemption to vaccinations on behalf of their kids. Fortunately, S.B. 442 was left in committee upon adjournment on July 6, 2015. NHFA also opposed S.B. 298, a bill which sought to require regulation of bodywork in the same manner that the law currently regulates massage, via a licensing law. NHFA opposes this unnecessary restriction on bodyworkers and is glad the bill was never heard in the Business and Transportation Committee to which it was referred in January 2015.

Unfortunately, Oregon was unsuccessful at passing a GMO-Labeling law this year and their attempt to put the issue to the people in a state wide initiative also failed to pass; H.B. 3121 was a bill to refer the GMO-Labeling Act to the people for approval or rejection at next regular general election but it was still in committee upon adjournment.

Please email NHFA for more information on Oregon or for help starting a health freedom group for Oregon residents. Oregon launched a new health freedom group in 2012 and we are awaiting more information on their contact information. In addition, Sunshine Health Freedom Foundation has Coordinators Mark and Sylvia Rogers in Oregon. NHFA is not aware of any other active health freedom group in Oregon at this time.

Pennsylvania: In 2015, Pennsylvania introduced S.B. 612/H.B. 516, bills to create Naturopathic Doctor Licensure. NHFA was neutral on these bills because they contained an unprecedented protective exemption for unlicensed natural health practitioners. In the past, NHFA worked to defeat Pennsylvania bills similar to S.B. 612/H.B. 516 introduced for a number of years, collaborating with groups that oppose the naturopathic doctors being the only practitioners that can exclusively provide natural health care services. No movement on S.B. 612/H.B. 516 has occurred since being referred to (H) Committee on Feb. 23, 2015 and to (S) Committee on March 13, 2015.

NHFA opposed H.B. 883, a bill to eliminate philosophical belief exemptions from vaccination requirements and to restrict religious belief exemptions in Pennsylvania. No action has been taken on H.B. 883 since it was referred to the House Committee on Health on April 6, 2015.

To connect with Pennsylvania leaders, contact NHFA. NHFA will soon hold a public conference call for PA residents interested in Health Freedom to try to find the advocates and resources to move ahead a Safe Harbor bill for PA. In 2013 leaders of the Pennsylvania Natural Health Freedom Coalition (PANHFC) put on hold their work to find sponsors for their Safe Harbor bill. The group has draft language ready for introduction but does not have the resources to move ahead.

Rhode Island: In 2015, numerous Naturopathic Physician Licensing bills were introduced in Rhode Island which were all recommended to be held for further study by their respective Committee(s) back in March, 2015; these included S.B. 94 / H.B. 5380 and S.B. 331/ H.B. 5501. NHFA did not actively oppose these bills because RI is a health freedom state and the bill language did not appear to conflict with the current law for unlicensed practitioners. Although the bills are technically dead for the year, NHFA will continue to monitor licensing bills introduced in health freedom states for potential conflicts with health freedom laws.

2015 also saw the introduction of S.B. 381, a bill to eliminate Rhode Island’s religious-based exemptions to vaccination requirements. NHFA opposed the bill and the Health Committee recommended it be held for further study on March 26.

GMO-Labeling efforts were also not successful in 2015; S.B. 93 and H.B. 5502 were recommended to be held for further study on April 9, 2015 and March 4, 2015, respectively.

NHFA is not aware of a health freedom group in Rhode Island at this time; please email NHFA for more information on Rhode Island or for help starting a health freedom group for Rhode Island residents.

Note Rhode Island - Enacted Health Freedom Law:2000 Rhode Island Safe Harbor Exemption law: Rhode Island followed Minnesota in its passage and the language of the law is similar and broader in model. Coalition for Natural Health ushered this bill through the legislature and NHFA offered support. See: TITLE 2, Health and Safety, CHAPTER 23-74, Unlicensed Health Care Practices, SECTION 23-74-1.



South Carolina: Quiet in 2015…No activity reported since 2014 NHFA Update. NHFA has contacts in South Carolina and it is our hope that they begin to put a health freedom group together to pass a Safe Harbor Exemption bill. Contact NHFA for more information on South Carolina or to connect with South Carolina leaders, contact Caroline at [email protected].

South Dakota: Quiet so far in 2015…No activity reported since 2011 NHFA Update. NHFA is not aware of a health freedom group in South Dakota at this time; please email NHFA for more information on South Dakota or for help starting a health freedom group for South Dakota residents. Efforts to introduce a safe harbor bill for natural health care in South Dakota took place in 2012 with NHFA providing draft language for such a bill to South Dakota Senator Holien. We look forward to future collaboration with South Dakota on this effort.

Tennessee: Tennessee introduced GMO-Labeling bills again in 2015 but in March 2015 the bills, S.B. 696/H.B. 1218, were deferred for action until 2016.

NHFA is not aware of a health freedom group in Tennessee at this time; please email NHFA for more information on Tennessee or for help starting a health freedom group for Tennessee residents.

Texas: In 2015, NHFA helped oppose H.B. 2006, a bill to eliminate conscientious and religious belief exemptions to vaccination and there has been no action on it since being referred to the Public Health Committee on March 11, 2015. In addition NHFA opposed H.B. 1674, a bill Restricting Religious Belief Exemptions, introduced and referred to Public Health on March 9, 2015 but it hasn’t moved since then. There were a number of bills put forth in TX in 2015 and Texas Health Freedom Coalition worked hard to monitor and get the word out on the bills.

To connect with Texas Health Freedom Coalition, please visit their website, www.texashealthfreedom.com, or call Peter McCarthy at (210) 372-0557 and to connect with Texas Complementary and Alternative Medical Association, contact [email protected]. Back in 2013, Texas introduced HJR 125, a Health Freedom Constitutional Amendment proposal. NHFA supported this effort but the bill was not passed before the end of session. Over the last four legislative sessions, the Texas Health Freedom Coalition has exerted efforts to pass health freedom legislation in Texas and in the 2011 legislative session, they were successful in getting companion bills heard by both the House Public Health and Senate Health and Human Services Committees.

Utah: Quiet in 2015…No activity reported since 2014 NHFA Update. NHFA is not aware of an active health freedom group in Utah at this time and would like the opportunity to support any new group there; please email NHFA for more information on Utah or for help starting a health freedom group for Utah residents. 2014 brought new contacts in Utah and Utah health freedom activists are beginning to organize again to introduce a safe harbor health freedom bill to protect the rights of natural health care practitioners to practice. Utah leaders had previously in 2009 introduced a bill that did not pass. However they are hopeful that they are gathering the forces to go to the legislature again. NHFA has provided leaders with a draft of a Safe Harbor bill. We are hopeful that the group will rally to pass a health freedom bill in Clinton Miller’s home state.

Vermont: In 2015, NHFA opposed H.B. 98, a bill to Remove the Philosophical Exemption to Vaccination. Unfortunately, H.B. 98 was passed and was signed by the Governor on May 28, 2015. Vermont’s religious exemption is still in place.

NHFA also opposed H.B. 266, a bill requiring all school students, teachers, administrators and staff to be fully vaccinated unless he or she qualifies for a medical exemption. There was no action on it since it was referred to (H) Health Care on February 20, 2015. Additionally, NHFA opposed S.B.87, Eliminating religious belief exemptions to vaccination, and H.B.212, Eliminating both religious and philosophical belief exemptions to vaccinations. Fortunately, there has been no action on them since being referred to Health and Welfare in February 2015.

In 2015, the Vermont GMO-labeling law (see 2014 H.B.112) is the subject of a lawsuit brought by the Grocery Manufacturer’s Association to overturn this first no-strings-attached GMO-labeling law and NHFA is awaiting a decision on its constitutionality. H.B. 112 passed by an overwhelming margin and was signed into law on May 8,




2014. The new law provides that any genetically engineered food sold in Vermont must be labeled by July 1, 2016 and that foods containing GMO-ingredients will also not be allowed to be labeled "natural."

To connect with Vermont leaders, contact Guido Mase at [email protected].

Virginia: Quiet in 2015…No activity reported since 2014 NHFA Update. To connect with Virginians for Health Freedom visit www.va4hf.org or email [email protected] and to connect with the Virginia Chapter of the CNHPs (Certified Natural Health Professionals), visit www.cnhpva.org or email Jane at [email protected]. Virginians for Health Freedom continue their work to lay the ground work for introducing a health freedom bill in Virginia in 2015. They introduced H.B. 1744, a health freedom safe harbor exemption bill, in 2009 and we’re eager to support them in doing so again in future legislative sessions.

Washington: In 2015, NHFA opposed H.B. 2009, a bill to eliminate personal belief exemptions to vaccination requirements for school kids. H.B. 2009 did not pass this session but it was reintroduced and retained in present status on June 28, 2015. We also opposed H.B. 1252, a bill adding Penalties for Unlicensed Massage or Reflexology, but the bill was adopted on April 17, 2015.

To connect with Washington leaders, contact Health Freedom Washington at [email protected] and visit www.healthfreedomwa.org. Health Freedom Washington, a Washington group of activists who were previously working in support of a safe harbor bill for natural health practitioners have been inactive since the 2011 session. In the past, they held successful meetings with legislators and regulators and worked hard to build consensus among all parties and to find a sponsor who will be a champion for health freedom. WA is unique in that they currently have legislative intent stating that the state does not expect all health care practitioners to be licensed. However, the intent has not held up in cases against the unlicensed practitioners; at least seven licensed and unlicensed practitioners who provide alternative health care have been investigated in the past ten years. In response to the investigations, activists have formed organizations with the goal of changing the laws.

West Virginia: Quiet in 2015…No activity reported since 2014 NHFA Update. NHFA is not aware of a health freedom group in West Virginia at this time; please email NHFA for more information on West Virginia or for help starting a health freedom group for West Virginia residents.

Wisconsin: In 2015, the Wisconsin Health Freedom Coalition continues their work to pass the “Wisconsin Consumer Choice and Wellness Legislation” into law. Their bills, S.B. 198/A.B. 307, were introduced in the Senate on June 17, 2015 and in the Assembly on August 10 and were referred to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services and the Assembly Committee on Health. S.B. 198/A.B. 307 is authored by Senators Moulton, Lasee and Olsen and is cosponsored by Representatives Murphy, T. Larson, Quinn and Ripp. Wisconsin’s bill will protect consumer access to complementary and alternative health care practitioners practicing within the parameters of the bill.

NHFA is also watching and will support S.B. 218, Prohibiting Employer Mandatory Flu Vaccine Requirement for Employees. S.B. 218 was assigned to the Senate Health Committee(s) in August 2015.

To connect with Wisconsin leaders, please visit contact Syncha at [email protected] and visit Wisconsin Health Freedom Coalition at www.wihfc.com . The Wisconsin Health Freedom Coalition is working with a lobbyist to help get the Health Committee Chairs to schedule a hearing on S.B.198/A.B. 307. NHFA sent attorney Anne Tenner to WI in January 2015 to meet WIHFC’s new lobbyist at the WI Capitol and continues to closely support WI efforts.



http://www.wihfc.com/



http://www.healthfreedomwa.org/



http://www.cnhpva.org/


http://www.va4hf.org/


Documents

2015 State Update